Table of Contents
- ADF’s Transatlantic Ambitions
- The Secret Ties Between ADF and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK
- Why Britain Is a Surprising Target
- The Rise of ‘Judeo-Christian Values’ in UK Rhetoric
- Sources
ADF’s Transatlantic Ambitions
The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a powerful U.S.-based Christian legal group known for its central role in overturning Roe v. Wade, is now turning its attention across the Atlantic—to Britain. According to a joint investigation by The New York Times, ADF is actively working to reshape the political conversation around abortion and religious identity in the UK, despite the country’s starkly different political and legal landscape .
ADF frames its UK mission as a defense of “free speech,” which it claims is in “crisis” in Britain. But in candid interviews, ADF lawyers admitted their ultimate goal is clear: to roll back abortion access in England and Wales, where it has been legal for nearly six decades and enjoys overwhelming public support .
The Secret Ties Between ADF and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK
What makes this campaign particularly significant is ADF’s quiet but growing alliance with Nigel Farage and his Reform UK party. Though both sides have kept their collaboration under wraps, The Times uncovered evidence of coordinated efforts: ADF has arranged private briefings in London, facilitated meetings between Farage and top U.S. State Department officials, and even hosted the British populist leader before visiting American congressional delegations .
Notably, Farage—who once dismissed abortion policy as “number 468” on his party’s agenda—has recently begun echoing ADF’s talking points. In Washington, he testified in favor of tighter abortion limits, though he notably avoided the topic during his speech at Reform UK’s annual conference back home, suggesting a strategic awareness of audience sensitivities.
Why Britain Is a Surprising Target
Britain may seem an unlikely battlefield for the anti-abortion movement. Abortion is legal up to 24 weeks in England and Wales, and nearly 90% of Britons support access to abortion services. In June 2025, Parliament even moved to decriminalize women who seek abortions beyond the legal limit—though those who assist them (like doctors) can still face prosecution .
Unlike the U.S., where courts can strike down laws, abortion policy in Britain is set solely by Parliament. That means ADF can’t replicate its American legal strategy. Instead, it’s pursuing a long-game cultural and political approach: building alliances, shifting public discourse, and embedding its values within a rising populist movement.
The Rise of ‘Judeo-Christian Values’ in UK Rhetoric
One of the most telling signs of ADF’s influence is Farage’s recent use of the phrase “Judeo-Christian values”—a term deeply rooted in American conservative Christian circles but virtually unheard of in mainstream British politics.
According to Times reporter Jane Bradley, who has covered UK politics for nearly 20 years, this language marks a sharp departure from traditional British political discourse. “I couldn’t recall a politician ever using that term,” she noted. Yet Farage has begun deploying it selectively—especially when addressing U.S. audiences—signaling alignment with the American religious right .
Public Opinion vs. Political Strategy
| Country | Public Support for Abortion Rights | Primary Legal Mechanism |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Majority support, but highly polarized | Court rulings (e.g., Roe, Dobbs) |
| United Kingdom | ~90% support legal access | Parliamentary legislation |
